Something I’m noticing is that while America continues their pattern of climate denial and destructive hyper-individualism, China - for all its flaws - seems to be leading the charge on the single greatest existential challenge of our time.
China is rapidly expanding renewables and green tech. They’re on track to become the world’s renewable superpower. While Americans absentmindedly whine and complain about society improving, China gets right to work on constructing a green national infrastructure to actually address the root causes of the crisis.
China understands collective action and planning are the only way humanity can overcome existential threats. China’s top-down governance, however authoritarian some claim, efficiently marshalled resources to minimize devastation during the COVID pandemic, but what’s possibly more important is their collective culture, the populace’s eager willingness to listen to the authorities, and make personal sacrifices for the benefit of society as a whole. None of that “freedumb” nonsense or pearl-clutching. Imagine if the US mandated decisive actions, not “choose your own experiment!”
This is serious; we cannot rest on our laurels and we cannot go back to brunch. We haven’t the luxury of half measures. Rather, we need the appropriate sort of complete and holistic mobilization asap to transition to greener, more sustainable models. To survive impending eco-collapse will require global equity, not privileged nations hoarding pie while the rest burn. We’d be wise to learn from China’s example. Obviously they’re not perfect - no one is - but I think their climate policies reveal what truly ambitious climate action looks like: bold, large-scale interventions that prioritize the collective good over individual freedoms.
As the CCP seems to want to own the world and everyone in it, it only makes sense that they want to save their toys from the flames. Well, as long as they aren’t Muslim, dissenters, a sovereign Taiwan, or anyone else that they don’t like.
I realize that this is a kneejerk reaction, but your post’s core is still ‘America bad, China good, so bend over like a good sheep, stupid’.
Valid concerns, but still opportunistic propaganda disguised as concern for the world, so perhaps the message shouldn’t be delivered via tankie.
The Chinese Propaganda Machine is already affecting Lemmy like it did on Reddit lol.
Seriously though I’m kind of sick of it and China’s lying as they make more and more coal plants and have mini environmental disasters like the rent-able electric car trend that so many companies did just to make bang over buck from the CCP over it that failed during covid.
China is not your friend nor is the friend of the world infact it is actively harmful to both human rights and the environment at large.
Anyway unlike other people I do have sources for what I claim here.
china has a rapidly aging populace, an unsustainable birthrate, and far too many peasants to support - they’ve got a very small window of time to prepare for the collapse of the country. when it happens, they’ll retreat, eastwards, to where the larger cities are (which isnt in the western 4/5ths of the current borders). that region you’ve highlighted will be abandoned - it doesnt really matter if it’s 22c or 52c. presumably the russians or the indians will pick it up, but probably wont settle in that area.
superpower though? lol no. regional power in southeast asia, at best. manufacturing is leaving china as we speak. in 10 years most of our “made in china” stickers will be “made in nigeria”, or “made in argentina”
Don’t underestimate China’s power to fuck things up for everyone to ensure it’s survival. The CCP has shown it’s willing and able to do anything they deem useful, regardless of the human cost. Uncontrolled powers in this day and age are absolutely terrifying.
There’s too much red in this picture. They really should use another baseline. If red would start only at 40 Degree Celsius, the globe would look much more welcoming.
Look, I’m just trying to give productive feedback.
I don’t own a car and walk or bike everywhere I need to. I buy clothes and things I need second hand and support local shops when it comes to food and drink. I live in a small apartment/flat and recycle everything I can.
I don’t even care about the state of the world anymore. I’ve given up - the world is fucked. Can’t do anything about it, and I’m doing everything I can - so I’ll just carry on and live my life. Yeah, people will be fucked down the line, but what am I supposed to do more than what I’m already doing?
Talk about it and get angry. Show your sphere of influence how concerned you are; friends and family will pay more attention to you than they will to any scientist, celebrity or politician.
I'm somewhat in the same boat. I do what I can but now I'm disenfranchised from the whole engagement. I'll continue to be a steward for the environment but don't expect me to be optimistic or angered by the state of affairs.
And people thought I was kidding when I wondered a few years ago when we would have to face the problem of not even being able to drive due to melting tires from the heat.
They start to lose integrity around 200⁰C or 390⁰F… we’ll be dead long before our tires randomly soften to the poi t rhey deform.
But you’re right that friction under even slightly higher heat means they’ll wear out significantly quicker. Drivers might need to change them every 1-2 years instead of 3-5, as a hypothetical.
I live in the Phoenix area. Every summer, as it starts to heat up (so like april…) you start seeing the tire debris everywhere, and the higher frequency of cars pulled over with flat tires… Heat is absolutely a factor in premature tire failure, whether or not the rubber is literally melting.
I mean of course some people don’t change their tires when they’re supposed to, or continue driving on flat tires to get to move their vehicle from the place it originally went flat. So sure when not being used as designed, of course there is a bias towards rubber tearing in the triple digits instead. If you’re not an idiot driving on safety hazards it’s extremely unlikely.
Potatoes. You don’t need a lot of light and they grow from the sprouts of old potatoes. They do need some water though. Same with other root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes. But I’ve never managed to get a sweet potato to grow. Carrots and potatoes and tomatoes grow good in the fall and winter in az. Now I’m just trying to figure out what to grow to can for the summer months.
It’s strange - in the UK we’re usually getting toasty this time of year too, but we’ve had unusually mild weather despite many other parts of the world experiencing record temperatures. Feels like the mildest summer we’ve had in about 10 years.
This might be because we’re in an ill niño weather event. This brings hot coast to the southern hemisphere particularly South America. And it means the North is cooler particularly north Europe and Canada. This will flip back and forth over the years
Yeah, people are not going to stop taking vacations and stop consuming as they have been. Those who calling to do something, I bet they can’t even downsize their lifestyle. Let’s talk about co2 per capita. Let’s talk about Americans with 2+ cars n bigger cars. Let’s talk about food waste in America. America is probably one of the most wasteful country on this planet.
I am a hard-core green dude. Been at for about 15 years ago. Kind of gave up couple years ago. Not worth making my life inconvenient when the whole country doesn’t do jqcksht about it.
I get this comment a lot. A way to make yourself feel better? I know who you going to blame next, the big corps? Remember who they selling to. You! So yes, consumers are to blame. When Joe wants a bigger truck when he can get a prius or take the public transit, guess who’s to blame? Fighting climate change is all about inconvenience. Yall can’t handle the inconvenience and cost of a greener lifestyle. It’s much more convince to blame the government, the big corps, and the rich.
Consumers are partially to blame but remember corporations brainwash the living shit out of people. They’ve effectively stomped out the last bit of hope we had. Go to any YouTube video that mentions a “heat wave” and you’ll see what I’m talking about in the comment section.
The consumers are who these companies sell to. The normal people drive cars, buy plastic, eat meat and dairy, produce unnecessary waste. Of course consumers have a huge responsibility in this.
It is pretty depressing, I agree. You can take heart however in knowing that collectively, we as people cannot do very much. The best thing we can do is elect politicians who will put pressure on the real villains here: the 100 or so corporations that make up 70% of the total Co2 emissions.
Everyone. I am very aware of that. But you can’t expect the whole world to just change from the individual up - it isn’t realistic, because the current state of our civilization requires it. Going around making people feel guilty about using a gas powered car is not helping anything, if anything it hurts the movement because we could come off as assholes, and then no one listens us. People have to like you if you are going to convince anyone of anything.
The only real, substantial thing we can do is get people to elect progressives at this point. That or start disrupting the actions of these companies in any way possible. Telling my parents not to go on vacation though? They’ll think I’ve been brainwashed by AOC and go even further into their trench.
For the record though, I’m not trying to be angry - kudos to you for being conscientious of your impact on the environment and your passion for getting the word out about it.
Everyone. I am very aware of that. But you can’t expect the whole world to just change from the individual up - it isn’t realistic, because the current state of our civilization requires it. Going around making people feel guilty about using a gas powered car is not helping anything, if anything it hurts the movement because we could come off as assholes, and then no one listens us. People have to like you if you are going to convince anyone of anything.
The only real, substantial thing we can do is get people to elect progressives at this point. That or start disrupting the actions of these companies in any way possible. Telling my parents not to go on vacation though? They’ll think I’ve been brainwashed by AOC and go even further into their trench.
For the record though, I’m not trying to be angry - kudos to you for being conscientious of your impact on the environment and your passion for getting the word out about it.
"A new study has found that consuming a single fish from the Great Lakes is equal to drinking a month’s worth of water contaminated with high levels of “forever chemicals.”
(The recommended amount of some species of fish is now 0 in lake Michigan.)
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